# Kiko Martínez

Francisco "Kiko" Martínez Sánchez (born 7 March 1986) is a Spanish former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2023. He was a world champion in two weight classes, holding the IBF super-bantamweight title from 2013 to 2014, and the IBF featherweight title from 2021 to 2022. At regional level, he held the European super-bantamweight title three times between 2007 and 2013, and the European featherweight title in 2018.

## Amateur career

Martínez fought extensively as an amateur. He fought 40 amateur bouts and never lost, with 38 of those victories being by knockout. Martinez stated that he "could have gone to the Olympics – the Spanish amateur boxing association wanted me to sign a four-year contract but I wanted to turn professional".

## Professional career

Martínez turned professional on 11 June 2004, defeating David Casero by knockout in the third round on a card that included Javier Castillejo.
Martínez went on to win all of his first 11 fights with each victory coming via a knockout within four rounds.

### European super-bantamweight champion

On 10 March 2006, Martínez faced Frenchman Salem Bouaita for his EBU European Union super bantamweight title at Pabellón de Elche in Spain. This was Martinez's first fight which went past four rounds and the fight went the full scheduled 10 rounds. Martínez was given a unanimous points win and won the title.
Martínez won a further four fights and became the mandatory challenger European super bantamweight title.

#### Martínez vs. Dunne

The EBU made Martinez the mandatory challenger for Irish fighter, Bernard Dunne's European super bantamweight title.
Martínez and Dunne clashed on 25 August 2007 at the Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland. This was Martinez's first fight outside of Spain and despite being the challenger he was confident of victory. Martinez stated before the fight that he "might be a little shorter than Bernard but I'm 5 foot 4 inches of a headache for him".
On the night of the fight the Point Depot filled with expectant Irish boxing fans and the fight was beamed live on RTÉ, the Irish national television broadcaster. The fight started with Dunne keeping his guard low and circling Martínez. However, Martínez quickly had Dunne on the canvas with an overhand right. Dunne appeared stunned and unaware of what had happened. Dunne beat the count but was floored twice more before the referee stopped the fight within only 90 seconds of round one.
The Martínez camp stated that they knew there would be a first round victory and that many of them had placed bets worth thousands of pounds with Irish bookmakers at odds of 66/1 that Martínez would win in the first round.

### Controversy

Martínez had signed to fight another Irishman, the Las Vegas-based former WBC bantamweight champion, Wayne McCullough at Belfast's Kings Hall on 1 December 2007.
McCullough had not fought for over two years and the Kings Hall venue was sold out for the fight. It was agreed that the non-title fight would take place at 8 st 12 lb mark. However, on the day before the fight there was uproar during the weigh-in and the fight was cancelled amid chaotic scenes. McCullough had already contracted to fight at 2 lb over the 8 st 10 lb championship weight and he weighed in at 8 st 9 lb. However, Martínez failed to make the agreed weight and was 1.75 lb over the agreed weight.
Martínez was given a couple of hours to shed the excess weight, but did not return to weigh in again and the scales were closed by a BBBofC official. A furious McCullough stated "I couldn't believe it. He comes in over the weight and then after being asked to take it off he just sits there and does nothing. I just can't believe what has happened. I was ready to fight and ready to win and he comes in that much over the weight.".

### First loss

Kiko Martínez made his first defence of the EBU super bantamweight title against Rendall Munroe; a title he had successfully taken from Bernard Dunne in August 2007. The fight against Munroe took place at the Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre, Nottingham on 7 March 2008.
The fight turned out to be fairly uneventful as Munroe countered Martínez by blocking and counterpunching, without ever troubling the champion. Meanwhile, Martinez failed to land the big shots that had seen him stop Bernard Dunne. The fight went the full 12 rounds, with Munroe winning by a majority points decision.

### Martínez vs. Frampton

On February 9, 2013, Martínez faced Carl Frampton in front of Frampton's home fans in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. Martinez lost by TKO in Round 9 losing the European Super-bantamweight title. Carl Frampton and Kiko fought again in September 2014 in Northern Ireland.
“Since the 9th of February 2013, when I get up at five in the morning to go training, I remember him. For me, to defeat him is a greater motivation than the chance to unify the belts," said Martinez.
"I will never forget that night and I will prove that it was just a bad day for me. I am world champion now and my legacy will be bigger for facing Carl Frampton.”

### IBF super-bantamweight champion

On 17 August 2013 in New Jersey, Martínez beat Jonatan Romero by TKO to win the IBF Super Bantamweight title. After 2 successful defenses, Martinez then had a rematch with Carl Frampton resulting in Martinez losing his IBF belt.
Since then Martinez has had ten wins and 5 losses. Three of these losses were against World Champions Scott Quigg, Leo Santa Cruz and Gary Russell Jr.

## Professional boxing record

| 58 fights | 44 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 31 | 5 |
| By decision | 13 | 7 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 58 | Loss | 44–12–2 | Reiya Abe | UD | 12 | 8 Apr 2023 | Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 57 | Win | 44–11–2 | Jordan Gill | TKO | 4 (12), 2:44 | 29 Oct 2022 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Won European featherweight title |
| 56 | Loss | 43–11–2 | Josh Warrington | TKO | 7 (12), 2:12 | 26 Mar 2022 | First Direct Arena, Leeds, England | Lost IBF featherweight title |
| 55 | Win | 43–10–2 | Kid Galahad | KO | 6 (12), 0:06 | 13 Nov 2021 | Utilita Arena Sheffield, Sheffield, England | Won IBF featherweight title |
| 54 | Win | 42–10–2 | Jayro Duran | UD | 8 | 11 Sep 2021 | Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 53 | Loss | 41–10–2 | Zelfa Barrett | UD | 12 | 13 Feb 2021 | The SSE Arena, London, England | For IBF Inter-Continental junior-lightweight title |
| 52 | Win | 41–9–2 | Noe Martinez Raygoza | TKO | 3 (8), 2:09 | 21 Aug 2020 | El Malecon, Torrelavega, Spain | |
| 51 | Win | 40–9–2 | Alexander Cazares | UD | 10 | 7 Dec 2019 | Polideportivo Vicente Trueba, Torrelavega, Spain | |
| 50 | Loss | 39–9–2 | Gary Russell Jr. | TKO | 5 (12), 2:52 | 18 May 2019 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. | For WBC featherweight title |
| 49 | Win | 39–8–2 | Marc Vidal | UD | 12 | 27 Oct 2018 | Polideportivo Fernando Martin, Fuenlabrada, Spain | Won European featherweight title |
| 48 | Draw | 38–8–2 | Marc Vidal | TD | 3 (12), 3:00 | 19 May 2018 | Plaza de Toros, Benidorm, Spain | For European featherweight title; TD after Vidal was cut |
| 47 | Win | 38–8–1 | Lorenzo Parra | KO | 3 (8), 2:55 | 26 Aug 2017 | Plaza de Toros, Benidorm, Spain | |
| 46 | Win | 37–8–1 | Franklin Varela | TKO | 4 (8), 1:40 | 14 Jul 2017 | Palacio de Deportes, Benidorm, Spain | |
| 45 | Loss | 36–8–1 | Josh Warrington | MD | 12 | 13 May 2017 | First Direct Arena, Leeds, England | For WBC International featherweight title |
| 44 | Win | 36–7–1 | Leonel Hernandez | PTS | 8 | 25 Nov 2016 | Palacio de los Deportes, Gijón, Spain | |
| 43 | Draw | 35–7–1 | Eusebio Osejo | SD | 8 | 23 Jul 2016 | Palacio de Deportes, Benidorm, Spain | |
| 42 | Loss | 35–7 | Léo Santa Cruz | TKO | 5 (12), 2:09 | 27 Feb 2016 | Honda Center, Anaheim, California, US | For WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 41 | Win | 35–6 | Miguel Gonzalez | TKO | 4 (8), 1:39 | 12 Dec 2015 | Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 40 | Win | 34–6 | Everth Briceno | UD | 8 | 14 Nov 2015 | Gran Canaria Arena, Las Palmas, Spain | |
| 39 | Win | 33–6 | Herald Molina | KO | 1 (8), 0:54 | 23 Oct 2015 | Pabellón Pilar Fernández Valderrama, Valladolid, Spain | |
| 38 | Loss | 32–6 | Scott Quigg | TKO | 2 (12), 1:02 | 18 Jul 2015 | Manchester Arena, Manchester, England | For WBA (Regular) super-bantamweight title |
| 37 | Win | 32–5 | George Gachechiladze | TKO | 2 (8), 3:00 | 12 Dec 2014 | Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 36 | Loss | 31–5 | Carl Frampton | UD | 12 | 6 Sep 2014 | Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Lost IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 35 | Win | 31–4 | Hozumi Hasegawa | TKO | 7 (12), 1:20 | 23 Apr 2014 | Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka, Japan | Retained IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 34 | Win | 30–4 | Jeffrey Mathebula | KO | 9 (12), 2:05 | 21 Dec 2013 | Pabellón Esperanza Lag, Elche, Spain | Retained IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 33 | Win | 29–4 | Jonatan Romero | TKO | 6 (12), 2:40 | 17 Aug 2013 | Revel Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | Won IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 32 | Win | 28–4 | Damian David Mariano | TKO | 2 (8), 1:41 | 27 Apr 2013 | José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Won vacant WBC Latino super-bantamweight title |
| 31 | Loss | 27–4 | Carl Frampton | TKO | 9 (12), 2:46 | 9 Feb 2013 | Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Lost European super-bantamweight title; For IBF Inter-Continental super-bantamweight title |
| 30 | Win | 27–3 | Dougie Curran | PTS | 6 | 21 Jul 2012 | The Emerald Roadhouse, Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| 29 | Win | 26–3 | Arsen Martirosian | TKO | 12 (12), 0:35 | 9 Mar 2012 | Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France | Retained European super-bantamweight title |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Jason Booth | KO | 10 (12), 2:22 | 15 Apr 2011 | La Cubierta, Leganés, Spain | Won vacant European super-bantamweight title |
| 27 | Win | 24–3 | Oscar Chacin | UD | 6 | 18 Feb 2011 | Daya Nueva, Spain | |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Arsen Martirosian | UD | 12 | 11 Sep 2010 | National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Won vacant European super-bantamweight title |
| 25 | Win | 22–3 | Feliciano Dario Azuaga | TKO | 3 (12), 1:12 | 16 Apr 2010 | Valladolid, Spain | Won vacant WBO Latino interim super-bantamweight title |
| 24 | Win | 21–3 | Said Chichti | KO | 1 (6), 2:07 | 11 Dec 2009 | Daya Nueva, Spain | |
| 23 | Loss | 20–3 | Takalani Ndlovu | UD | 12 | 25 Sep 2009 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 22 | Loss | 20–2 | Rendall Munroe | UD | 12 | 27 Feb 2009 | Metrodome, Barnsley, England | For European super-bantamweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Gheorghe Ghiompirica | PTS | 6 | 18 Dec 2008 | City University, Dublin, Ireland | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Silviu Lupu | TKO | 1 (10), 1:10 | 12 Aug 2008 | Plaza de Toros, Benidorm, Spain | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Lante Addy | PTS | 8 | 5 Jul 2008 | National Basketball Arena, Dublin, Ireland | |
| 18 | Loss | 17–1 | Rendall Munroe | MD | 12 | 7 Mar 2008 | Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Nottingham, England | Lost European super-bantamweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Bernard Dunne | TKO | 1 (12), 1:26 | 25 Aug 2007 | Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland | Won European super-bantamweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Andrei Florin | TKO | 1 (8), 3:00 | 18 Mar 2007 | Polideportivo Municipal, Catral, Spain | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Edison Torres | UD | 8 | 15 Dec 2006 | Dolores, Spain | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | John Bikai | PTS | 12 | 14 Jul 2006 | Alicante, Spain | Retained European Union super-bantamweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Andrei Florin | TKO | 3 (6), 2:33 | 26 May 2006 | Dolores, Spain | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Salem Bouaita | UD | 10 | 10 Mar 2006 | Pabellón, Elche, Spain | Won European Union super-bantamweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Peter Baláž | KO | 1 (6), 1:38 | 25 Nov 2005 | Dolores, Spain | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Manuel Sequera | KO | 2 (6), 2:15 | 14 Oct 2005 | Dolores, Spain | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Manuel Gomes | KO | 4 (12), 2:01 | 15 Jul 2005 | Benidorm, Spain | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Sergei Nikitin | TKO | 2 (8), 1:02 | 6 May 2005 | Alicante, Spain | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Frederic Bonifai | TKO | 2 (8), 2:45 | 4 Mar 2005 | León, Spain | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Nikolai Mihailov | TKO | 4 (6), 2:44 | 4 Feb 2005 | Alcalá de Henares, Spain | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Julio Vargas | TKO | 4 (6), 0:11 | 19 Nov 2004 | Torrevieja, Spain | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Juan Garcia Martin | TKO | 3 (6), 2:59 | 15 Oct 2004 | Madrid, Spain | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Cristiano Andres Oliveira | KO | 1 (4), 2:39 | 10 Sep 2004 | Madrid, Spain | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Irimiea Ion | TKO | 3 (4), 1:13 | 24 Jul 2004 | Benidorm, Spain | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | David Casero | TKO | 3 (4), 2:14 | 11 Jun 2004 | La Cubierta, Leganés, Spain | |